Dear professor I'd like to ask how do you define Integration and is it the only way for Muslims to be accepted in Europe and there are not any other alternatives?
Answer
The term integration has not been created for Muslims. It refers to a sociological process of adaptation of immigrants to their new society. The adaptation is economic but also cultural. In other words, the culture of the new comers is changed by the cultural context of the society in which they live. For Muslims in Europe, there is an expectation by the "host society" that thy will change not only culturally but also religiously and abandon some Islamic prescriptions ( most of them related to Family Law and dress code) to adapt to the secular context. These specific expectations toward Muslims makes the use of the term "integration" confusing. It does not refer anymore to a "neutral" social process of adaptation but an ideological pressure for assimilation.
Name
Ahmed
- Canada
Profession
Question
Please give us a checklist of what do Muslims in Europe have to do to be European Muslims and fully integrated in their European societies?
Answer
I wish I could have such a check list.
To my knowledge, most of Muslims in Europe accept the dominant political norms of the country in which they live. In other words, there are very rare (and unsuccessful) attempts to create Islamic parties, which is the sign of recognition by Muslims of main stream political institutions.
The main problem concerns the socio-economic marginality of Muslims : high unemployment , poor housing and low level of education that put some of them in ghettos.
The full integration will come from the Restoration of such ghettos. It is not the responsibility of Muslims only but also of the different segments of European societies, especially politicians and administrations to make sure that Muslims are not discriminated against from the job or housing market.
Name
Mena
- France
Profession
Question
Do you think that integration is the right social process in a multiethnic and a multicultural society like Europe? And why do we speak about European Muslims if Europe is still an idea and Many European citizens Do not know what is Europe and what are the European Values? I am French and Europe for me is a market not a community and France is my country and I am sorry to say that I do not know what is Europe that you are asking Muslims to integrate in ?
Answer
If you do not know what is Europe, then you are like most of Europeans, especially the youth. so you are a little European...
We speak about European Muslims because Muslims share some concerns beyond national borders, organization and public recognition of the Islamic faith, training of religious authorities adapted to the cultural contexts of the different European societies. But these concerns will of course be shaped by the national differences in Europe: German Muslims and French Muslims will be organized nationally but they will also be European if they agree on basic values such as Democracy, Human Rights and gender equality. Then they will share something beyond Germany and France.
It is also interesting to see the emergence of Muslim organizations at the European level that deals specifically with religious questions such as the European Council of Fatawas.To say it differently, European Islam concerns Islam and not cultures or languages.
Name
Zaki
- Egypt
Profession
Question
What are the difficulties on the way of Muslims integration in Europe and do you think that Europe is ready not only to accept Muslims integration but to understand Islam as a religion ?
Answer
As I said in previous responses, the difficulties are economic and social. But they are also cultural and religious. There is indeed a great resistance in accepting Islam as a religion. The reason is that more than we can think from other parts of the world, Europeans are very secularized, Secularization does not mean here separation between State and Church only (actually there is no such strict separation in Europe except in France) but illegitimacy of religious references in social life. It means that Europeans do not accept easily the social visibility of religions. Most of them are suspicious about it. So they do not always understand why Islam is a part of the cultural and social integration of Muslim immigrants. There is the idea that a secular space should free the new comers from religious bonds, which is a very European (not American) approach to secularism.
That is why building Islamic institutions is very difficult in Europe.
Name
Adelida
- Italy
Profession
Question
You are living and working between Europe and the United states of America. What are the main differences between the tow societies in the issue of accepting Muslims according to the concept of citizenship which may be not the same ?I am not sure if integration is the right word to be used in the USA. what do you think Doctor?
Answer
The major difference between Europe and America concerns the status of religion in society.
Europeans, (even when there is a church of State like Anglicanism in the United Kingdom) are very secularized in their social and cultural behaviors and do not think that religion should be part of the fabric of citizenship. While in the United States, it is quite the opposite: religious references and resources are considered positively. To be a good citizen is to be a good believer as well. Churches, temples etc,, partake in social life.
This means that is has been easier for Muslims to express themselves as believers and build religious institutions in the US than in Europe, even after 9/11.
Name
habib
- India
Profession
journalist
Question
According to you what should be done to remove the misconception about Islam?
Answer
First on the level of political and public discourse, politicians, journalists and public intellectuals could clearly differentiate between political and religious issues, national and international concerns when it comes to present conflicts where Islam and Muslims are involved. There is the common misperception that Islam is only political. One way to counter this misperception would be to systematically differentiate the spiritually of the religion in contrast to the political use of Islam.
Second, Islam has to be fully included in the curriculum of public schools in the fields of history and arts and not be treated as a separate. exotic topic.
Name
imran
- India
Profession
student
Question
I live in India which is overwhelmingly non-Muslim. As a Muslim, I try my best to be a devout Muslim and I also respect and obey the rules of my country which in most cases do not interfere with my religious practices. According to me, if a German or a French Muslim pays his taxes n obeys the laws of his land sometimes even better than the natives, then don't you think the least he or she can ask is to be free to be able to practice his religion and its laws? If Europe has lost its faith, then it doesn't mean that Muslims too secularize their faith? I would also like to point out to you that in India and most Muslim nations even in Iran people are free to practice their own religious laws and their are no liberal papers who publicly make a mockery of people's faith. What are your comments on this point and the solution to the integration problem?
Answer
The problem you raise concerns the perception of Islam in European public discourse. It is related to the long history between Europe and the Muslim world (since the medieval times). The most recent episode is the colonial period. There is still an unequal relationship between Muslims and the major parts of European societies because the shared memory is conflicting and painful and some Europeans sometimes still think of themselves as the dominant.
One solution would be to change the teaching and education of the new generations and to fully include Islam in the training of the new European generations.
Name
Amanda
- Canada
Profession
Question
How do you see the future of Muslims In Europe and please tell us about your fears if there are?
Answer
My fear is the growing segregation of Muslims in most of European societies. By segregation, I do not mean only urban or spatial segregation but also symbolic segregation.
There are is a growing Muslim middle class all over Europe but some of them can feel that they are not fully accepted in main stream institutions of organizations or even social or professional networks, especially if they consider themselves as believers. This estrangement can cause frustration and be source of political conflict.
Name
Raheel
- Luxembourg
Profession
Question
After the problem of Hijab (Headscarves)in France How can Muslim women achieve a balance between their identity as Muslims and their belonging to France? And let's ask in general why don’t the European countries help Muslims to achieve this balance if they are serious in their will to accept Muslims as normal citizens?
Answer
Despite the law prohibiting religious signs in public schools, most of young Muslim women try to achieve balance between their religious tradition and French nationality. Most of them would never leave France to another country for example.
There is a lot to do in Europe on communicating and teaching Islam and diminish inequality and discrimination. The best ways to do it would be to associate the new generations of Muslims born and educated in Europe to this communication and training geared to non Muslims.
